Bid for South Main sewer work far exceeds cost projections

Rockland — The sole bid received by Rockland to separate storm and sewer lines along South Main Street came in well over the estimate.

City Manager Tom Luttrell said the city will review the bid to determine why it far exceeds the estimate.

The long-delayed project has also delayed the paving of South Main Street by the Maine Department of Transportation. The city manager said the South Main paving is not expected to be done until 2020 or 2021.

Luttrell said, however, the state would apply a skim coat of paving on South Main once the sewer project is completed.

The city's engineer had projected a cost of $1.5 million for the sewer/stormwater separation project. The sole bid from Ranger Contracting came in at $2,160,000.

Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Terry Pinto said the estimate by the engineers was done last year and that the construction/contracting market has changed significantly.

"The fact that we only got one bid tells you something," Pinto said.

He said he has talked to contractors who say they cannot bid because they cannot find enough qualified workers.

Local school districts have also experienced this challenge on projects.

Pinto said he would review the bid and see if it is a reasonable one.

"I'm confident we will get the project done," he said.

The project calls for installing separate sewer and stormwater lines from near where the railroad tracks cross South Main to the intersection of Water Street.

The city manager said the project could start this fall and be completed in the spring.

Road projects

City Public Services Director David St. Laurent issued an updated list of roads to be paved throughout the city.

The city is currently paving Limerock Street from Broadway to Old County Road.

The next road to be done is the Bog Road.

Other roads to be paved are: Atlantic Street from Mechanic to Crescent Street; Broadway from Pleasant Street to Gordon Drive; Lovejoy Street from Thomaston to Holmes Street; Park Drive; Talbot Avenue from the top of the hill to Old County Road; Waldo Avenue; North Main Street from Cedar to Main Street; Oliver Street; West Meadow Road from Mountain Road to Lake Avenue; and Thomaston Street from Broadway to the Thomaston town line.

The Public Services director also said the state will be paving Park Street and Camden Street next summer.

Rockland voters approved in November 2016 (2,575 to 845) borrowing $2.7 million for road work.

At the Rockland City Council's Sept. 12 meeting, the city manager said the city is also moving ahead with the fiber-optic broadband installation project approved by voters in November 2016. Voters approved borrowing up to $400,000 for that work.

Comments (6)

Posted by: Richard McKusic, Sr. | Sep 17, 2018 08:53

Just returned from City Hall, stopping to apologize for the harshness in my comments reflective on the City Manager. My desire is to be part of the solution, not to exacerbate the problem. Their position is already difficult enough without making it any harder. :)

Posted by: Richard McKusic, Sr. | Sep 14, 2018 13:19

We have already been told the job will not be done as previously designed. They will be lining the existing pipes instead of replacing them. Is that really the best we can do? Somebody needs to keep an eye on people making the decisions before we have another fiasco. We already have enough situations on the back burner without having another. PLEASE

Posted by: James York | Sep 13, 2018 22:54

If the city council didn't allow the bonds to issued we would likely be looking at even higher cost in the future; so Kudos there, but the issue for our city remains: REVENUE to maintain schools, roads, sidewalks, etc. We need new development and not Moratoriums. We will invest in our city if our city will invest in us.

Posted by: Richard McKusic, Sr. | Sep 13, 2018 13:16

"The project calls for installing separate sewer and storm water lines from near where the railroad tracks cross South Main to the intersection of Water Street." It doesn't sound like this is going to complete the separation needed for the entire city. Is that correct? How much more needs to be done? Hope some of the council are looking back at the records for this project.

Posted by: Francis Mazzeo, Jr. | Sep 13, 2018 11:56

Sad that we have more educated idiots than skilled workers.

Posted by: Richard McKusic, Sr. | Sep 13, 2018 10:46

BECAUSE THE WORK WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO, It appears that city hall thinks we are all stupid.